Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! By
Efficacy and Safety of Ezetimibe for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Publisher Pubmed



Ar Boskabadi Amir REZA ; S Khodabandelu SAJAD ; Y Rahimi YASAMAN ; A Motamedi ALIREZA ; P Asili POORIA ; A Ghasempour AZADEH ; A Keshavarzian ALI ; Sh Noori Shokoofe H ; M Rahmanian MOHAMMAD
Authors

Source: Current Reviews in Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Published:2025


Abstract

Background and Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in the world. It is associated with life-threatening conditions such as cardiovascular disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate ezetimibe in patients with NAFLD. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL up to August 8th, 2024, to identify relevant articles. The most used keywords for searching are “Ezetimibe” and “Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.” A random-effects model evaluated the standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI). All analyses were performed using the “meta” package in the R programming language version 4.3.1. Results: Ten studies included in our study (five non-controlled and six controlled trials, with a total of 516 participants) investigated the effect of ezetimibe on different parameters. Ezetimibe significantly improves AST (SMD: -0.63, 95% CI: [-1.12, -0.14]), ALT (SMD: -0.50, 95% CI: [-0.91, -0.10]), GGT (SMD: -0.30, 95% CI: [-0.49, -0.10]), and LDL (SMD: -0.85, 95% CI: [-1.16, -0.54]), but was unable to improve HDL, TG, and BMI. Ezetimibe was also able to improve steatosis (SMD: -0.30, 95% CI: [-0.49, -0.10]), but inflammation (SMD: 0.06, 95% CI: [-0.57, 0.69]), ballooning (SMD: -0.62, 95% CI: [-1.55, 0.31]), and fibrosis (SMD: 0.03, 95% CI: [-0.25, 0.31]) were not improved. Conclusion: Based on the findings, the administration of ezetimibe can reduce liver enzymes as well as the hepatic steatosis, but its effects on liver inflammation and fibrosis remain controversial. Further research is required to study its effects in combination with other treatments. Prospero Registration Number: CRD4204609599. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Related Docs
View other Related Docs
1. Exercise-Activated Hepatic Autophagy Combined With Silymarin Is Associated With Suppression of Apoptosis in Rats Subjected to Dexamethasone Induced- Fatty Liver Damage, Molecular Biology Reports (2024)
2. The Effects of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication on Liver Function and Metabolic Profile in Non-Diabetic Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis: A 5-Year Randomized Clinical Trial, Middle East Journal of Digestive Diseases (2022)
3. Association of Allium Vegetables Intake and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Risk: A Case-Control Study, Nutrition and Food Science (2020)
Experts (# of related papers)
View all Related Experts
Hossein Poustchi (3)
Raika Jamali (2)
Other Related Docs
4. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver: The Association With Metabolic Abnormalities, Body Mass Index and Central Obesity - a Population-Based Study, Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders (2015)
5. Dietary Advanced Glycation End Products Are Associated With an Increased Risk of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Iranian Adults, BMC Endocrine Disorders (2023)
6. Does Saffron Supplementation Have Favorable Effects on Liver Function Indicators? a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (2022)
7. Effect of Beta Vulgaris Extract on Liver Enzymes in Patients With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Hepatitis Monthly (2020)
8. Association of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Carotid Media-Intima Thickness: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis, Health Science Reports (2023)
9. Prediction of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Via a Novel Panel of Serum Adipokines, Medicine (United States) (2016)
10. Does Naringenin Supplementation Improve Lipid Profile, Severity of Hepatic Steatosis and Probability of Liver Fibrosis in Overweight/Obese Patients With Nafld? a Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial, International Journal of Clinical Practice (2021)
11. Which One Is Better for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, the Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass or One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass? a Paired Liver Biopsy Report, Obesity Medicine (2020)
12. Effects of Gut Microbial Therapy on Lipid Profile in Individuals With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: An Umbrella Meta-Analysis Study, Systematic Reviews (2023)
13. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Govaresh (2019)
14. Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Liver Function Tests: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials, Nutrition Reviews (2025)
15. The Effect of Saffron Consumption on Liver Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials; [Die Auswirkung Von Safrankonsum Auf Die Leberfunktion: Eine Systematische Ubersichtsarbeit], Complementary Medicine Research (2021)
16. Nomenclature and Definition of Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease: A Consensus From the Middle East and North Africa, The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2021)
17. The Relationship Between Anthropometric Indices and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study, Frontiers in Nutrition (2024)
18. Glucose-Lowering Drugs and Liver-Related Outcomes Among Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Population-Based Studies, Diabetic Medicine (2024)
19. The Association of Dietary Inflammatory Index (Dii) and Central Obesity With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (Nafld) in People With Diabetes (T2dm), Heliyon (2023)
20. Treatment Options for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Double-Blinded Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial, European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2019)